| Description | Component of the inflammasome complex involved in innate immunity and inflammation. Inflammasomes are supramolecular micron-sized complexes that assemble in the cytosol adjacent to the nucleus in response to pathogens and other damage-associated signals. The core of inflammasomes consists of at least 2 components: a signal sensor and an effector inflammatory caspase (mostly CASP1). However, most inflammasomes contain a third element, an adaptor (often ASC/PYCARD) In response to a danger signal, the sensor homooligomerizes and interacts with the adaptor that polymerizes and forms a platform to recruit caspase precursors. This results in increased local concentration of the enzyme, leading to trans-autocleavage and activation. Active caspases process proinflammatory IL1B and IL18 cytokine precursors, which are then secreted in the extracellular milieu and induce inflammatory responses. In adaptor-independent inflammasomes, the sensor directly recruits the caspase. Additional proteins may interaction with the core complex. Inflammasomes also induce pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of programmed cell death |
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